Saw V

When it comes to ambiguity, the Saw franchise has been fairly consistent since day one. Each film represents a piece to the overall puzzle and with another Saw already in the works, it really makes you wonder when all this is going to end.

Sure, at first, people praised Saw for it’s ingenious and originality, but now this whole franchise is becoming dry and disinteresting. Too many sequels can be malignant in their efforts and therein lies the biggest problem with this latest installment. Instead of adding anything of value, Saw V is nothing more than a feeble attempt to maintain relevance and I, for one, can no longer support mediocrity. It’s one thing to buy into something that was once heralded as a fresh, new twist on the horror genre, but now things have gotten a little out of hand. Allow me to explain.

It’s not so much the fact that Saw V is a bad movie, but more so that it stands out when compared to the quality of work of previous installments. I’ll admit, each film has gotten progressively worse in succession; but I solely attribute that to this whole “smart” horror movie mantra. So many people have bought into the “hidden” themes of these movies (I, myself, included) and it almost feels as though it’s one big circle. Nothing is ever fully explained and instead of expanding on things, themes, and ideas you would expect, the audience is left with even more questions than they had going in to begin with.

Is that a bad thing? Yes and no, I suppose, but it depends on how you look at it. No, from the standpoint of the writers and producers because, obviously, the Saw franchise has proven to be a bankable entity; but yes from the view of a fan because there’s no real sense of a payoff. Meaning, ultimately, we as fans are the ones getting jerked around in the end.

Which leads me to this convoluted mess we call Saw V. No amount of originality could save this lifeless piece of work and, in watching, you can really tell that the writers have become [somewhat] uninspired. That undeniable essence that made Saw what it was is no longer there and some would argue that it [too] died along with the decision to kill off Jigsaw.

Ultimately a dire decision considered by some, the death of Jigsaw raised a lot of eyebrows because it hindered the amount of possibilities that could be done with the story henceforth. Limiting your lead character to essentially flashbacks is a death nail of sorts and, so far, Saw V has suffered the most from that. Don’t get me wrong, the shift from Jigsaw to Hoffman as his apprentice was done nicely but if the ends don’t justify the means, what exactly are we left with? Nothing. It’s as simple as that.

Therefore, Saw V is extremely passable and will likely disappoint fans of the series. Other than a few loose ends being tied up, this movie leaves a lot to be desired and is essentially nothing more than a set up for the inevitable Saw VI.

And to think, at one time or another this franchise began with such promise; but now, to see it gradually become worse year after year is even more unbearable to watch than some of the previous franchises that overstayed their welcome (i.e., Halloween, Friday the 13th, etc). Still, it’s all relative in a way, no matter how you look at it. But one thing’s for sure, Saw V is the ultimate buzz kill and you can trust me on that.

Rating: 1 ½ inkblots out of 5